Identify a primary diagnostic method used in TCVM.

In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), tongue diagnosis is a primary diagnostic method that provides valuable insights into an animal’s overall health and internal conditions. Practitioners examine the tongue's color, shape, coating, and moisture to assess the state of the organ systems and the presence of any imbalances.

The color of the tongue may indicate the presence of heat, cold, deficiency, or excess, while the shape and size can reveal issues related to qi and blood flow. The coating on the tongue can signify the health of the stomach and spleen, and its texture may reflect the imbalance of yin and yang. By interpreting these characteristics, a TCVM practitioner can formulate a more comprehensive treatment approach tailored to the specific needs of the animal.

While pulse diagnosis, blood analysis, and ultrasound examination can provide additional information about a patient's condition, they do not have the same foundational status within TCVM practice as tongue diagnosis does. Tongue diagnosis, rooted in ancient Chinese medicine, remains one of the most direct and insightful methods for evaluating a patient’s health in this holistic system.